Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

A firmly embedded ridge of high pressure in Alberta seems to be causing systems to fizzle once they reach the Columbia Mountains. On Friday light snowfall is expected but should taper-off with only trace amounts forecast for Saturday/Sunday. Winds should be light and west/northwesterly throughout the period with freezing levels peaking at about 1300m.

No new avalanches to report. Our image gallery now has photos from the recent Hellroaring Creek avalanche near Kimberley. Follow the link to view: http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/library/avalanche-image-galleries/avalanches-2011-2012

Cooling has helped the snowpack to gain considerable strength since the warming on the weekend and a crusts have now developed on slopes that saw direct sun. On shaded aspects the upper snowpack is also well settled. The exception to this may be isolated windslabs due to redistribution of surface snow on Monday and Tuesday. Below this sits a fairly well bonded mid-pack and riders are feeling increasingly confident in steeper terrain, particularly in areas with a deeper snowpack. In the south of the region, it is thought that the January 13th surface hoar (buried about 40cm down) may still be reactive. There are also basal facets at the ground which were reactive with the warming last weekend, especially in thin snowpack parts of the region. Snowpack depths at 2000m sit near 2m deep. If you're traveling around the mountains, it's a good time to take notice of what layers are developing (surface hoar/ crusts/ facets) that may become an issue once buried.